The world’s first entirely solar train has begun full service in Byron Bay, Australia. The Byron Bay Railroad Company equipped a heritage train with a 6.5 kilowatt (kW) solar array and flexible solar panels. It can transport up to 100 seated passengers, as well accommodating a few standing passengers, and there’s even room for luggage, bikes, etc. The fare is currently $3 for adults, $2 for ages six to 13, and free for children up to age five for one-way trips. Continue reading for another video, more pictures and information.
“The flexible SunMan solar panels lining the carriage roofs produce energy that is stored a 77 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery system, which can also charge up between trips via a 30 kW solar array at the main station. The battery bank has around the same capacity as a Tesla Model S, according to RenewEconomy, and can make 12 to 15 runs off one charge as it only takes the solar train around four kWh for each leg of the trip. A regenerative braking system recovers around 25 percent of the spent energy each time the brakes are applied,” reports Inhabitat.
